Doctor Who 50th

[KayHarker]

I'm still stupidly excited about the 'new' Troughton episodes, but just to add to the fun, Watch are showing some seriously classic episodes today from 2pm. Any else watching? And what are you looking forward to as we approach the anniversary episode and beyond?

I thought it was going to be the Weeping Angels too :)

agree, Sherbert, whatsherface badly mis-cast as Queen Elizabeth I. You need Miranda Richardson or Cate Blanchett, FFS, or someone else with Presence with a capital P. Not a silly girly person.

I'm not a Dr Who fan, haven't watched since Christopher Eccleston-but I did watch this, & thought that it was fun tbh.

Am intending to watch when PC takes over.

My DS and his little mates were chatting in the playground this morning and they all said their favourite bit was the Zygons! I thought they were a bit rubbish as monsters, although I do love a shapeshifting monster- they give me the right creeps! Apparently they were DT's favourite monsters from when he was little. Maybe you have to be 5 to truly appreciate them. It must be hard to try and do an episode which has to appeal to such a large demographic. Some things will go over children's heads and some things will be too childish for the adults.

I didn't mind Queenie, though having just seen her being simpering Lily in Breathless was strange to see her as QE1!

Loved the episode, thought 10yo DD was going to hyperventilate when they were deciding whether or not to push the button. She didn't like the Zygons!
Only sad bit was remembering just how good DT made it - he and Christopher Ecclestone were less "cutesy" than Matt Smith - hoping Peter Capaldi redresses the balance and we get a little more darkness, can't be bouncy all the time.
(Talking of which, does anyone else think that Matt Smith looks like the Disney Tigger? Something about the long face and the expressions?)

Yes, housemum, he is like Tigger. Hated him at first, esp. the contrast with Tennant, but I've got used to him now. Can't wait for Capaldi, though.

After all the "when will we have a female Doctor" fuss, I'm surprised that there hasn't been more approval of the crucial female roles in Day of the Doctor.

Conscience (Billy Piper) was female.
The future of earth (shall we / shan't we nuke the Tower) was a negotiation between two females (Kate Lethbridge-Stewart).
But, most fundamentally, the three male Doctors were ready to press the Red Button and destroy Gallifrey but it was a female raised eyebrow from Clara that stopped them and caused them to think of the third way.

As a child I was terrified of the Zygons above all other monsters. Its the not knowing if the person is real or a zygon.

Loved "Can you possibly talk without flapping your arms about like that??"

Very good points, Senua. I was beginning to despair of Moffat ever writing decent parts for women, but you are right, the 50th anniversary episode was, um, hopeful.

Was at the inlaws on Saturday so didn't get to watch DotD until last night. Fab.
Also watched the 5ish Doctors just now. I recognised David Troughton and Frank Skinner, but who was the other Dalek operator and why Frank Skinner?

I didn't recognise David troughton so just saw Frank Skinner - wondered why him though?

No idea about Frank Skinner, unless he's a fan, which is perfectly possible. The other one was Nick Briggs, voice of the Daleks and the Cybermen.

Frank Skinner did ask for a part in Doctor Who so they may have felt he was a good fit for the production...

The Wikipedia page for the Five(ish) Doctors has a handy run-down of who many of the people are.

I was beginning to despair of Moffat ever writing decent parts for women, but you are right, the 50th anniversary episode was, um, hopeful.

More than hopeful. If Gallifrey still stands then Doctor Who can regenerate for a twelfth and final time. But we will have a planet of umpty-billion other Time Lords, Ladies and all shades inbetween who can carry on the franchise.

The BBC will never be brave enough to create a female doctor. Never.

I think they've already solved the 'limited number of regenerations' problem - didn't Bad Wolf Rose give the Doc her left-over regenerations or something (back when Bad Wolf was the season finale, not in the 50th anniversary)?

Edam, I thought the regenerations were from River in "Let's Kill Hitler", hence why she couldn't regenerate to survive in The Library.

The limit on regenerations was always an artificially-imposed thing, so logically now that the Doctor has mislaid Gallifrey it shouldn't exist any more.

8cornflake and Alicia* thank you!!!!! .

glad im not alone!

Cornflake sorry pressed wrong key and your name didn't bold!

awwww the has gone.

nope. gave it another go last night and switched over when DT and the awful Queen came on (We were watching 'school reunion' this afternoon. now THATS a good episode) then switched back to see TB.

ive always thought there are some awesome episodes and just plain rubbish ones. you cant get it right every time! even with old doctor episodes (the bertie basstett 7th one, the movie 8th, most of CE's. most of DT's and a number of MS, and the 4th time lord trial one that was yawnsome,) so not just this one.

Oh gosh yes, The Deadly Assassin was very boring.

And all of Colin Bakers

, an ally in seadevils .

and did I hear wrong but when Carol ANn Ford was asked at the sfter show party if she thought the prog had changed a lot she said yes?

watching the early/older ones I think its since lost its way a bit personally, too much on companion relationships and the competition with other sci-fi progs and getting away from Sidney Newmans original idea? not all the time, but a lot of the time.

but that's why I like Matt Smith, you can see the Pat Troughtonm and Hartnell traits in him.

wearingpurple we were Weeping Angels! We knew one of the volunteers and he texted us at one point to tell us he was in the lift with Matt Smith .

Yes, Jenna did seem to be genuinely lovely and was so tiny (but they always are, aren't they?).

Felt sorry for some of the old cast who nobody was queuing up for at the autograph bit.